Eleven BC marinas prepare for marine oil spill

Eleven marinas—all members of Georgia Strait Alliance’s Clean Marine BC program—participated in a theoretical and practical marine oil spill response training session yesterday at False Creek Fishermen’s Wharf in Vancouver. Participating marinas refreshed their knowledge and honed their planning and preparation skills to be able to effectively deal with and respond to a small-scale marine oil spill, which involved a mock spill at a moored vessel.

“This is the first spill training session that we’ve ever organized for marinas as part of our Clean Marine BC program.” says Christianne Wilhelmson, Executive Director of Georgia Strait Alliance. “Now these eleven facilities are better equipped to execute coordinated, effective, and quick responses if a spill happens at their dock or boatyard which is so important because a competent marine spill response can mitigate the harm caused by oil and fuel entering our water.”

“We’re a busy commercial fishing harbour, and spills can happen,” says Mike Loy, Harbour Manager of False Creek Harbour Authority. “It’s our job to be ready to react. For me, the practical element in yesterday’s training was extremely valuable; we’ll be taking some new knowledge and skills back to our harbour.”

Personnel from the following Clean Marine BC-certified or enrolled marinas, yacht clubs and boatyards participated in the full-day spill training session:

Canoe Cove Marina & Boatyard

False Creek Fishermen’s Wharf

False Creek Fuels

Granville Island Maritime Market & Marina

Ladysmith Maritime Society Marina

Royal Vancouver Yacht Club – Jericho and Coal Harbour

Royal Victoria Yacht Club

Stones Boatyard

Vancouver Marina

West Vancouver Yacht Club

The roles the 20 participants play at their own facilities range from general, wharfage and marina managers to dock hands, foreshore leads, wharfingers, and dock maintenance technicians. The session was facilitated by Global Stratagem Consulting and hosted by False Creek Harbour Authority, with the support of Georgia Strait Alliance.

CMBC is a voluntary environmental recognition program for marinas, harbour authorities, yacht clubs, and boatyards. Launched by Georgia Strait Alliance in 2007, the five-anchor rating program helps boating facilities to improve upon and achieve excellence in environmental best practices.

Seventeen certified members representing 23 marinas, yacht clubs, boatyards and wharfs are now part of the program, and another 22 facilities have adopted the Clean Marine BC policy and are working towards certification.

About Georgia Strait Alliance

Formed in 1990, Georgia Strait Alliance is the only conservation group whose mission is focused on working to protect and restore the marine environment and promote the sustainability of Georgia Strait, its adjoining waters and communities.

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I support Georgia Strait Alliance because the work they do is making a difference; it’s making it better for everybody. Together, we are protecting this incredible place that continues to fascinate me.